Current status of the "Kee Bird" B-29 Superfortress

Read the forum code of contact

Member for

18 years 3 months

Posts: 2,025

Although reading further, you can suggest a topic for coverage by themselves.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 3,208

You can, but wouldn't that rather defeat the object?

Member for

9 years 4 months

Posts: 9

Still a lot of good parts there( by current standards)

Member for

9 years 2 months

Posts: 5

Through the glas clear ice we could see lots of material and parts on the lake bottom. C. 3 feet deep, and it should not be a problem in summer to get down to it.

Member for

9 years 3 months

Posts: 9

The current status of the b29 kee bird.

Hi I would like to know more about the b29 kee bird and who has the salvage rights.

Member for

14 years

Posts: 1,788

I believe there is/was an active thread on WIX which is visited by those 'in the know'.

Member for

9 years 3 months

Posts: 9

Thanks :)
I will have a look now

Member for

9 years 3 months

Posts: 9

who Owns the salvage rights to the kee bird? I've heard romours that Vernon Rich one of the origanal
Salvage crew has them?

Member for

9 years 3 months

Posts: 9

Where could I buy the book? I've only seen the DVD

Member for

14 years 7 months

Posts: 218

Idon't know of an actual book from the Nova DVD - but if you haven't got it already, then this book...

http://www.amazon.com/Hunting-Warbirds-Obsessive-Quest-Aircraft/dp/0345436180

...tells the story. I believe Veron Rich did obtain salvage rights in the immediate aftermath of the salvage attemmpt and fire: but I don't think anything ever came of it.

Member for

13 years 6 months

Posts: 722

Correct. There was a big number of complaints to Greenemyer over the way he handled the whole "mission" including the way he just left the remains. I've also heard that the family of Rick Kriege, who sadly died during the attempted rescue of the Kee, have sued Daryll on the grounds that he overworked him. Not sure how that ended up, but i've read many articles all saying that Greenemyer is known as quite unprofessional and stupid and is not respected in the aviation industry much.
I always had a funny feeling about him at the way he just sat there and watched the Kee burn to the ground without much emotion.
I'd be completely in bits seeing such a beautiful piece of engineering burn in front of me.

I met Daryll (and Ascher Ward) in Tulsa as they where transferring a YC-125 to NMUSAF.
Did not strike me as "professional", more seat of pants will see if everything works as we go kind of guy.

Member for

13 years 6 months

Posts: 722

Michael Hjorth, thank you very much for going though effort and posting!
Very few would take the time, and this is still a very valuable piece of history, both the aircraft, but the perils of recovery, lessons in how things can go very wrong, and how nature slowly takes back what we build.

I bet the thawing and freezing of the lake is source of some damage, buckling of the engine nacelle for instance.
Also the bent prop may be wind blowing hulk until it hit object with prop and bet it. Only 1 I see bent.

PS Michael Hjorth, I would rather jump out of airplane with parachute than "finger jam" on cliff any day!!!

Member for

9 years 3 months

Posts: 9

Thanks :)

Member for

9 years 3 months

Posts: 9

So I've heard that Vernon Rich got the salvage rights after the fire but does he still have them now?

Member for

14 years 4 months

Posts: 1,665

Contact the authorities in Greenland and find out.

Member for

9 years 3 months

Posts: 9

Is there another b29 in Greenland that is the same as kee bird was before the fire? I've just heard romours about it.

Member for

9 years 6 months

Posts: 3

These props we can see in 2015 are not the 1947 crash ones Michael, they are certainly the props instalated by Darrel's team